Smoking in public in the Philippines now carries up to four months jail time

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte got serious with his plans to ban public smoking all over the country by signing a respective executive order on May 16, notably in time before the World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

The order commands a ban of indoor smoking at all public places, whereby there is a wide definition of what public places are: They include workplaces, government offices and facilities, restaurants and bars, entertainment venues and casinos, hotels and guest houses, airports, educational institutions, hospitals, church grounds, markets, sports facilities, playgrounds, parks, resorts, bus stations, sidewalks, entrance ways, public transport vehicles including jeepneys and taxis, and others.

Regional government agencies have been mandated to enforce the ban and set up designated smoking areas at public places not larger than ten square meters for adults only which have to be at least a “buffer zone” of ten meters away from building entrances or exits, according to the order. To control the ban, seen as one of the harshest in the region, police-led anti-smoking task forces will be created in towns and cities.

The smoking ban also includes the use of electronic cigarettes.

People found smoking at forbidden locations are facing a penalty of 5,000 pesos (around $100), which is a lot for the average Filipino, as well as up to four months in jail in addition, for both locals and foreigners.

The executive order also limits the sale of tobacco products and their advertising and will come into force 60 days after being published in a newspaper or general circulation which is expected to take place shortly.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte got serious with his plans to ban public smoking all over the country by signing a respective executive order on May 16, notably in time before the World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

The order commands a ban of indoor smoking at all public places, whereby there is a wide definition of what public places are: They include workplaces, government offices and facilities, restaurants and bars, entertainment venues and casinos, hotels and guest houses, airports, educational institutions, hospitals, church grounds, markets, sports facilities, playgrounds, parks, resorts, bus stations, sidewalks, entrance ways, public transport vehicles including jeepneys and taxis, and others.

Regional government agencies have been mandated to enforce the ban and set up designated smoking areas at public places not larger than ten square meters for adults only which have to be at least a “buffer zone” of ten meters away from building entrances or exits, according to the order. To control the ban, seen as one of the harshest in the region, police-led anti-smoking task forces will be created in towns and cities.

The smoking ban also includes the use of electronic cigarettes.

People found smoking at forbidden locations are facing a penalty of 5,000 pesos (around $100), which is a lot for the average Filipino, as well as up to four months in jail in addition, for both locals and foreigners.

The executive order also limits the sale of tobacco products and their advertising and will come into force 60 days after being published in a newspaper or general circulation which is expected to take place shortly.